Bee Sting First Aid Tips and Preventive Measures
Bee stings can be dreadful and frightening. In the United States alone, thousand of people get stung by bees, in which around forty to fifty people die of allergic reactions to bee stings each year. Bees sting only when provoked. This is their way of defending themselves or their territories. However, you can still never be too sure when bees are going so attack. When this happens, a bee sting first aid is considered a must.
When bees sting, they normally leave off a stinger that contains toxins, which are responsible for causing certain types of allergic reactions. Following the sting, symptoms such as pain, itching, redness and swelling are but normal and can be reduced with bee sting first aid kits. However, you should be more particular with certain types of allergic reactions, which can be fatal if left untreated or unattended. These symptoms such as difficulty in breathing, dizziness, low blood pressure, wheezing and swelling that moves from the site to other parts of the body. Those who are known to, or are prone to developing allergic reactions to bee stings should carry bee sting first aid allergy kits, whenever necessary. Bee sting first aid allergy kits make a good addition to your usual bee sting first aid kit.
When administering bee sting first aid procedure, keep in mind not to pull out or squeeze the stinger from the stung area as this may only release more toxins into the body and damage your muscles. Instead, scrape it out with the use of a round, edgeless object such as a credit card, dull knife or a fingernail. Then, wash the site thoroughly with soap and water. Do it continuously several times until the skin heals. You can also apply ice on the affected area to reduce swelling or take over the counter medicines such as acetaminophen to provide pain relief.
Although you cannot stop the possibility of bee stings from happening, you can always take precautionary measures to reduce your risks of being stung. For one, if you are going to a place where bees are present, wear clean, light-colored clothing instead of dark, as it can usually attract fewer bees. Also, avoid wearing scents, especially banana-scented ones. If a bee flies around you, remain still or lie facedown on the ground. This is because the face is usually where the bee is most likely to sting. However, if you are attacked by a swarm of bees, go indoors immediately or jump into a body of water. Taking preventive measures may be better than getting bee sting first aid remedy.
